18-Mile Creek
Park
Visited March 14, 2021 (See further below for a June 19, 2021 visit log.)
18-Mile Creek Park, 2600-2772 South Creek Road, Hamburg, NY 14075
40 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny, cool breeze
No toilets available.
Dogs must be "curbed" and leashed. Ticks are common in western New York so make sure your dogs are treated.
The trail head is easy to find and is located near the information board at the parking area. The trails are muddy at this time of year and on the edge of a steep ravine. Waterproof boots are a good idea. The well-established trails are pretty easy to follow. They were wide enough for two people to walk side by side for most of the trail, but some areas were single-file paths. The first section is paved but has not been repaved in some time. Allow for at least an hour to go on the low trail which brings you to the creek and also to go on the high trail which follows along the ravine's edge. There was a bit of an incline as we approached the creek and I wished I had brought my trekking poles. We shared the trail with a few other pairs and families. In the creek, there were a few fishermen and one fly fisherman. Some of them used the same parking; some used a fishing access parking area on the other side of the creek.
No cost to access this park.
Park hours are posted as 7 AM- 9 PM (Memorial Day- Labor Day) and
7AM - Dusk (Labor Day-Memorial Day)
Limited parking. At 1:00 PM on this Sunday it was overflowing.
The sign says this is a smoke free park.
Item of note: One of the last properties on the road to the parking lot sported a number of impressive chainsaw sculptures. No pics for you as I was busy driving.
Pussy willows were budding out at the parking lot.
Visited June 19, 2021
18-Mile Creek Park, 2600-2772 South Creek Road, Hamburg, NY 14075
74 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny, cool breeze
No toilets available.
Dogs must be "curbed" and leashed. Ticks are common in western New York so make sure your dogs are treated.
I would allow two hours so that you do not feel rushed. I logged just shy of four miles hiking today. The trail head is easy to find and is near the information board at the parking area. The first half mile is paved. It is not in great condition but there is room to easily pass people coming from the other direction. The well-established trails are pretty easy to follow. When the trail turned to dirt paths, they were single-file paths. Today, I hiked alone but I brought the trekking poles. The poles were handy for the incline when I reached the lower falls. The trails were bone dry and the falls were dry. The creek has dried up to just mostly stagnant pools where I saw it. Today I took the paved trail to the yellow/blue trail, then the blue trail, then the yellow trail to the lower falls. It is well trodden and I had it all to myself except for one mountain biker who passed me. It was just shy of two miles to reach the falls which was a pretty spot today even though there was no actual water falling. Some of the weeds that grow at the edge of the creek were taller than me. On the return trek, I used the yellow trail, then red trail which joined up again with the blue trail and the paved section of trail. Whereas the blue trail hugs the edge of the ravine, the red trail meanders through a varied woodland and across a small creek which was also dry. On the return trip, I passed three pairs of people. One pair had a nice cattle dog with them. I really do enjoy having the trails to myself. The peace and quiet were magical; you know it is quiet, when a woodpecker "disturbs the silence."
No cost to access this park.
Park hours are posted as 7 AM- 9 PM (Memorial Day- Labor Day) and 7AM - Dusk (Labor Day-Memorial Day)
Limited parking. At 8:45 AM on this Saturday, I was the second car. When I left at 10:30 AM, there were thirteen cars packed into this lot. It is very important to park IN the lot as cars that are not IN the lot have been ticketed and towed. That would be a serious bummer way to end a lovely hike.
The sign says this is a smoke free park.
While hiking, I saw many wildflowers, butterflies, and dragonflies along the paved section of trail. I saw clover, birds foot, milkweed, mayapple, phlox, fern, and more. In the woods, I saw maple, cherry, oak, birch, and others. I scared off numerous chipmunks, a toad, a frog, and a garter snake today.
Item of note: One of the last properties on the road to the parking lot sported a number of impressive wooden chainsaw sculptures. No pics for you as I was busy driving. Today, a very industrious lady was painting them with what I assume is clear weather protectant of some sort.
This hike is also part of the WNY Summer Hiking Challenge. I joined the Summer 2021 challenge and this trail was completed for the challenge. https://outsidechronicles.com/challenge
Nearby:
JP Fitzgeralds ( 19 min./ 4.5 mi.)
4236 Clark Street, Hamburg, NY
I love this pub and its food. It hosts indoor and outdoor dining. If arriving at dinner hour, plan to call ahead. They provide polite, efficient service.
The paved section of trail near the parking area.
Milkweed in bloom
The trail when it first turns to dirt. It is yellow for a moment before it switches to blue.
Blue Trail
The path was littered with blossoms and the air smelled so good on this early stretch of the blue trail.
The creek is very dry today.
Phlox
The first waterfall was dry but it was interesting to see the rock face.
I left the blue trail here to go right on the yellow trail leading down to the lower falls.
One of my favorite parts of hiking fairly early in the morning is the way the light filters through the trees and clearings. This is the downward incline on the yellow trail.
This is the vegetation I had to walk through when I approached the creek bed.
The plants were so tall, they formed a "plant tunnel."
Where the waterfall should be...a very interesting rock face.
View to the right when facing the "water falls."
Mayapple
Dry creek bed on red trail
I just loved the gap these three fallen trees made for the trail.